RAPIDS WASH OUTLAWS AWAY
In an embarrassingly one sided North Group match, Worcestershire Rapids deservedly ran away with a 72 run victory against Notts Outlaws at Trent Bridge.
Winning the toss, Rapids' skipper, Moeen Ali led the way to setting a total of 206 for 2 with his 65 ably assisted by Callum Ferguson who blasted his maiden T20 century, scoring 102* from 56 deliveries. Outlaws appeared to have no coherent plan when bowling, lacking all of the confidence re-gained during the Derbyshire victory and had no answer to the onslaught from the Rapids' pairing of Ali and Ferguson who put on 135 runs in 12.2 overs. No bowler escaped the carnage and even Billy Root was given six balls to takeaway part of the hiding from his more experienced colleagues which only resulted in 14 runs recorded in a different column of the scoresheet. A combination of clean hitting, good running between wickets, good placement and some lucky drops short or between fielders ensured that Rapids raced to beyond 200 runs. Outlaws never had any control beyond the third over of the contest. Ish Sodhi claimed his customary "always gets a wicket" wicket but it was a case of too little, much too late for Outlaws. Ross Whiteley chipped in with 32 off 18 balls after Sodhi had removed the Rapids' skipper.
Notts can't chase!
For Notts to stand any chance and to reverse the form book in chasing down a target this season, freshly returned from injury and self-imposed contractual exile Alex Hales had to make a significant contribution, he didn't unfortunately and mistimed a slower ball from Wayne Parnell and was caught by Joe Clarke who had earlier had been the one Rapids failure with the bat (a very neat caught and bowled by Harry Gurney). That brought Tom Moores to join Riki Wessels at the wicket. Young Moores, as last week at Durham, tried, with head back, to hit every ball out of the ground having no shot selection and lacked any timing, so it was no surprise when he holed out to Pat Brown in the sixth over. Riki Wessels had made some good clean hits but never got the pace of the wicket and became a victim of the wily Mitchell for 21, Outlaws 53/3. Notts needed 152 runs from the last 11 overs.
Dan Christian joined Steven Mullaney in the hope that they together could muscle Notts back into the contest, he lasted 5 balls, being stumped, wildly swing off Moeen Ali for 5. Samit Patel, batting at a lowly number 6, lasted only 4 balls, another batsman mistiming and being caught off Moeen Ali. In spite of some big hitting from Mullaney, Notts' position was rapidly becoming near-impossible and with Outlaws requiring 100 off the last 36 balls they apparently hit the headless-chicken-self-destruct-button.
Steven Mullaney failed to ground his bat running (not so hard) to convert a single into a two, which gave keeper Cox enough time to collect and then disturb the bails with ball thrown in, Mullaney out for 55 (29 balls, 2x4s, 4x6s). At this stage of the innings Notts needed the heavy artillery but only had peas-shooters in Libby and Root at the wicket, but neither saw that same over out from Pat Brown which left Brown on a hat trick ball at the start of over 17, which Sodhi safely played out into the leg side, with most fielders having come in. Big Fletch gamely tried a few lusty blows in a long lost cause but was bowled by Parnell at the start of over 18. Harry Gurney lasted just the one ball, feathering to the keeper Cox, Outlaws 134 all out.
In interview with the media after the game Centurion Ferguson stated that the wicket "...was slowing up towards the end of our (Rapids) innings", so in Notts' defence perhaps that could have been a contributory factor for the dismal batting effort. It doesn't account for the half-hearted bowling effort, however.
Away wins now look to be the only answer if Outlaws are to make the top four with trips to Edgbaston, New Road and Headingley coming up. Notts have slipped below Derby now in the table, with the dreaded NRR in negativity thanks to this heavy loss.
You will have noticed our regular reporter, MAG, hasn't written this piece as he was unable to make the game, being taken ill around Saturday lunch time. Best Wishes to him and lets hope he gets well very soon, but he did choose a good game, or rather the right game to miss! So sorry folks for the lack of statistical analysis in the report. DDG
Alex Hales Returns for the Outlaws. Andy Carter plays for the Rapids in the last weekend fixture for Notts this season. Which is a disgrace.
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Totally agree with the above. The blast has become a tremendous success over the last two seasons in particular, so what better way to try and reduce the crowds, so the powers that be can point towards their flagship new league as being the saviour of white ball cricket.May be pure coincidence that Notts v Derby is on a Thursday and the Roses encounter also on a thursday, but as these are traditionally played Friday nights which attracts the highest gate of the season, I'm beginning to suspect that it's being planned deliberately. Of course there's a home game at the 3AAA tonight, but, surely there could have been a work around? As per the weekend issue, yes, it's absolutely appalling. Lots of supporters do not have the luxury of 30 days holiday, flex hours, or even better being retired and simply cannot get down to watch the games. Strangely enough, when the old John Player League was formed, they used to play it on a Sunday afternoon so people could actually watch it. Also, the old system of 3 day declaration county games may not have been perfect, but, when they started on a Friday, we had both the Friday and Saturday days play with the Sunday in between. Certainly not ideal for the players, but, the loyal membership could actually see cricket over the weekend, before returning to work
ReplyDeleteWell done DoC on your winter recruitment, double white ball champions, it's an embarrassing tag at the minute. Clearly as you keep on saying there's just no Kolpak/dual passport players good enough out there, we can all see that for ourselves, can't we? BUT, despite the horrific behind the scenes management at the club(and let's face it, if you're at Tesco, it's P45 time and no excuses), let's somehow pull together as a playing unit and make a concerted push for the top 4 and try to salvage something from the white ball campaign
ReplyDeleteWe should bring our own players through our system, and not rely on the short term fix of the Kolpak player.
ReplyDeleteYes, David i completely agree and in an ideal world it would be the best option. In fact, to only bring Samit Patel through your academy system as a batsman in all this time is shocking. But, we missed out on main targets Northeast, Jennings and Billings and last night, in particular, brought it home when touch players Libby and Roooot were chasing 13 an over as the squad is small and completely over stretched with very little options, not allowing for injuries and players out of form. As last years double winning white ball champions this situation of sudden mediocrity is woeful and if we do not qualify for the qtrs, which is in some doubt, should be an immediate wake up call to the powers that be. Remember Kent absolutely destroying us in the 50over game a month or so ago. Finally, on the thorny subject of Kolpak/dual passports etc, don't forget we were happy to give Gnasher a contract at the age of 34(now 35)clearly never going to play for the national team, so really what is the difference in real terms? Surely, the real argument should be about the QUALITY of the player that comes in, in my opinion, but I certainly agree with you 100percent that we should be looking to produce more players from our Academy system that go on to play for the first team
ReplyDeleteIt's certainly an aspiration to want to bring through players from the academy,The downside to that though is are Notts prepared to wait for however long that might take to happen ?
ReplyDeleteA club the size of Notts needs to competing for trophies, With younger inexperienced players the wait for them to develop to the standard where that might happen might be longer than the club and membership are prepared to accept.
Looking on the ESPN site the writer seems to suggest the will be movement of players between now and next season, Sadly Notts (with the exception of Ben Slater) do not get a mention
One thing though is for certain, We do not want a season with a squad that is clearly too small for the club's needs to happen again.... Whether the answer is the Kolpack players or players from another county is up to the management, Time maybe for the DOC to earn his money !
All of the great teams don't rest n their laurels and stand still but build on their success. Every time Notts win a trophy they all pat themselves in the back, do nothing and we go backwards. End of last season when we were the hottest team in the country we would have been an attractive proposition to any player but we didn't push hard enough and we are now back amongst the also rans.
ReplyDeleteVery well said. Agree 100 percent, they say we are in transition, well in my opinion thats the DoCs fault as his main job is to bring players in surely?
DeleteAs far as I can see that's his only job. Well that and perhaps pushing youngsters through from the academy. When did we last produce a homegrown batsman ourselves. Samit? Rumours Duckett is going to Yorks and Lees to Worcs. we should be in for those.
DeleteSo now no de Cocq to help out. Survival is going to be really tough. I suggest that are targets are:
ReplyDelete1 Restore some form and pride
2 Stay in the top division
3 Review the management structure and it's personnel
4 Recruit aggressively and confidently for 19/20